CensusEasy
COUNTY

Lincoln County

New Mexico · 19,844 residents (2025 est.) · 4,831.115 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO
Part of the Ruidoso micropolitan area
Compare
Notable rankings
#125Oldest by median ageof 3,14452.4
The short version

Lincoln County has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $53,303. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $233,200. With a median age of 52.4, the population is older than the US median of 38.9.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 52.4
US median: 38.9
Average education
32% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 41%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
20,224
+4%since 2000
from 19,411 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
4 / sq mi
−3%since 2009
from 4 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
52.4
+20%since 2000
from 43.8 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:19,844 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
11K14K17K19K22K1990201020202024Lincoln County
202420K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 53.9%(791)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 94.5%(913)
US avg: 6%
10 to 145%(1,020)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 193.9%(782)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 244.2%(846)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 349.1%(1,846)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4411.2%(2,265)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5410.7%(2,154)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6416.2%(3,280)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7418.1%(3,666)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 8411.2%(2,268)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over1.9%(393)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$53,303
−14%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $33,886 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$37,148
+92%since 2000
from $19,338 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
36.2%
+12.6 ptssince 2009
from 23.6% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
19.3%
+4.4 ptssince 2000
from 14.9% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.489
+17%since 2010
from 0.419 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information10.6%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade9.7%
US avg: 6.9%
Other services7%
US avg: 6.7%
Finance & insurance6.3%
US avg: 5.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing4.8%
US avg: 1.6%
Professional, scientific, technical3.8%
US avg: 5.1%
Retail trade3.2%
US avg: 9.9%
Public administration2.5%
US avg: 4.8%
Education & health services2.5%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing2.5%
US avg: 0.4%
Construction2.4%
US avg: 1.2%
Arts, entertainment, food0.4%
US avg: 1.9%
Transportation & warehousing0.3%
US avg: 2.2%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$233,200
+41%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $90,900 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$956
+12%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $468 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
76.8%
−0.4 ptssince 2000
from 77.2% in 2000
23.2% rent
Vacancy rate
44.0%
−7.4 ptssince 2009
from 51.5% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
22.4%
−1.7 ptssince 2009
from 24.1% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
38.9%
+7.5 ptssince 2009
from 31.4% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
4.4
+27%since 2009
from 3.4 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
31
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Lincoln County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic70.9%(13,763)
Black0.2%(47)
Hispanic / Latino25.6%(4,975)
Asian0.2%(48)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic60.2%(12,169)
Black0.8%(171)
Hispanic / Latino33%(6,664)
Asian0.5%(106)
Other5.5%(1,114)
Diversity Score
66
+11%since 2009
from 59 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
16
−17%since 2020
from 20 in 2020
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means White and non-White residents are more separated across neighborhoods.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican28.1%(5,678)
Spaniard0.7%(149)
Puerto Rican0.2%(41)
Colombian0.1%(15)
Asian origin
Asian Indian0.3%(51)
Japanese0.2%(49)
Korean0%(6)
Pacific Islander origin
Ancestry
American14.2%(2,862)
English13.4%(2,707)
German11.9%(2,400)
Irish9.8%(1,973)
Scottish3.1%(624)
French1.8%(368)
Italian1.4%(278)
Welsh1.3%(253)
Austrian1.1%(219)
British1%(211)
Norwegian0.9%(179)
Scotch-Irish0.8%(155)
+ 19 more ancestry groups with data
Polish0.5%(109)
Swedish0.5%(103)
Dutch0.5%(99)
Czech0.4%(85)
Hungarian0.4%(73)
Russian0.3%(58)
Greek0.3%(57)
Arab0.2%(35)
West Indian0.1%(28)
Portuguese0.1%(21)
Egyptian0.1%(19)
Slovene0.1%(19)
Finnish0.1%(14)
Danish0.1%(11)
Swiss0%(10)
RANKED:Largest Mexican population · Largest American population · Largest English population · Largest German population · Largest Irish population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
32.2%
+9.4 ptssince 2000
from 22.8% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
94.7%
+10.1 ptssince 2000
from 84.5% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
13.5%
+4.0 ptssince 2000
from 9.4% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
20.0 min
+35%since 2000
from 14.8 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
71.0%
+1.5 ptssince 2009
from 69.5% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
13.0%
−1.3 ptssince 2009
from 14.3% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.1%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 0.5% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
11.1%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 11.4% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
0.8%
−2.9 ptssince 2009
from 3.7% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.3%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 0.1% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
3.9%
+0.9 ptssince 2009
from 3.0% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
5.1%
+0.1 ptssince 2011
from 5.0% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
51.8%
−6.8 ptssince 2011
from 58.5% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
13.0%
−1.0 ptssince 2009
from 14.0% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
38.6%
−26.9 ptssince 2009
from 65.6% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.4%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 48.8% in 2009
Female
50.6%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 51.2% in 2009
Foreign born
3.8%
−2.9 ptssince 2009
from 6.7% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
10.2%
−38.3 ptssince 2009
from 48.6% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
22.5%
+2.1 ptssince 2012
from 20.4% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
9.6%
−73.5 ptssince 2013
from 83.1% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
84.7%
+20.0 ptssince 2017
from 64.7% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
82.1%
+5.4 ptssince 2016
from 76.7% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
15.5%
−5.8 ptssince 2016
from 21.3% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married24.2%(2,046)
Married57.9%(4,905)
Widowed4.8%(408)
Divorced13.1%(1,113)
Women 15+
Never married18.5%(1,669)
Married53.4%(4,825)
Widowed14.2%(1,285)
Divorced13.8%(1,249)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

Places similar to Lincoln County

Berrien County
Pop 18,932
Dodge County
Pop 19,663
Logan County
Pop 20,654
Cook County
Pop 18,232
Places similar to Lincoln County
Head to head

Compare Lincoln County to nearby counties

LINCOLN COUNTY VS
Torrance County
Income$57,842+9%
Home value$159,700−32%
Population16,100−19%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
LINCOLN COUNTY VS
Chaves County
Income$52,938−1%
Home value$156,400−33%
Population63,364+219%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
LINCOLN COUNTY VS
De Baca County
Income$40,804−23%
Home value$187,500−20%
Population1,647−92%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
LINCOLN COUNTY VS
Otero County
Income$55,876+5%
Home value$162,700−30%
Population70,368+255%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Lincoln County, New Mexico?

Lincoln County, New Mexico has about 20,224 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Lincoln County, New Mexico?

The typical household in Lincoln County, New Mexico earns about $53,303 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Lincoln County, New Mexico expensive?

In Lincoln County, New Mexico, the median home is worth about $233,200, and the typical rent is about $956 a month.

How educated are people in Lincoln County, New Mexico?

About 32.2% of adults age 25 and over in Lincoln County, New Mexico hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Lincoln County, New Mexico?

About 19.3% of people in Lincoln County, New Mexico live below the federal poverty line.

Has Lincoln County, New Mexico grown since 1990?

Yes, Lincoln County, New Mexico has grown since 1990. The population has added about 8,005 residents, a change of about 66 percent over that period.

Keep going

Explore from here

9 census tracts
Census Tract 9604.03Census Tract 9603Census Tract 9606.02Census Tract 9608Census Tract 9606.03Census Tract 9604.01Census Tract 9606.01Census Tract 9602Census Tract 9604.02
15 ZIP codes
ZIP 88345ZIP 88312ZIP 88346ZIP 88316ZIP 88301ZIP 88341ZIP 88336ZIP 88318ZIP 88355ZIP 88348ZIP 88338ZIP 88351ZIP 88343ZIP 88324ZIP 88323
Up the hierarchy
All counties in New Mexico
Rankings
Highest income countiesLowest poverty counties

DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →